A City Manager’s Demise?
Posted by DickH on 14 Jan 2009 at 11:15 pm | Tagged as: City Council, Lowell-2009
“I’ve been around the block long enough to know that ‘communications’ is a catchall that can be the start of a manager’s demise.”
Lowell City Manager Bernie Lynch during debate at this week’s Lowell City Council meeting on Councilor Rita Mercier’s motion that “The City Manager improve communications with the City Council.”
What I’m hearing about here is that they didn’t like getting ’scooped’ by the Sun. Sorry folks, but that’s going to happen from time to time, no matter who’s the CM. Keep in mind we’re not talking about weeks or days, but hours. If they are complaining about hours, then they are just looking for something to complain about.
This is a disappointing CC. Can’t wait for reelection.
BTW… Thanks for the youtube clip.
The councilors are the ones who changed the public meetings to 2 per month, instead of weekly. That should be the prime avenue of communications (in the public eye), and they opted to reduce that.
As for the communication between times, with immediacy to prevent “scoops”, it is totally unreasonable to expect the manager to call 9 councilors individually. Even if he did, I can hear the complaints on the order of the calls. The only reasonable way for more instant communication would be via e-mail or text message, and the councilors are responsible to make sure they can receive in that manner. And even then, there has to be some degree of reasonableness in determining what event of information rises to the level that needs to be communicated. “The handicapped sign in front of XXX has been installed!”
I agree with JoeS. The CC, under the “leadership” of Lenzi, the guy doing much of the complaining about communication, decided meeting once a week was just too much of a burden!
When I saw Rita then Lenzi and to a lesser extent Armand and Bud tee off on this I knew that it was the first shot in the war to replace Lynch. This is an election year so it would not surprise me that what I have called the CGOBN (Cox Good Ol Boy Network) have lined up people to run this fall. Hopefully the “progressives” have begun recruiting as well.
I also found it interesting to hear a couple of councilors say they had been in touch with people regarding a contract. Correct me if I am wrong but isn’t that Illegal under our charter?
I live in Dracut but I read the Sun and follow Lowell politics enough to know this is a very parochial on Rita Mercier’s behalf. Lynch is a good manager and if they run him out of town in favor of a political hack, they will be doing Lowell a disservice.
I watched the video after I posted my last comment…this was the first time I have seen a CC meeting and am not impressed by the obvious grandstanding and the way in which Lenzi, Mercier, etc. spoke about Lynch with the guy sitting right in front of them. They were obviously playing to the cameras but with the bad Boston accents, the pejorative way in which they kept on saying “professional manager”, etc. it was painful to watch. They seemed very, very amateurish and petty. Lynch must be hoping he gets fired so he can get away from the Peanut Galley!
You don’t need progressive candidates. What the city needs is candidates with open minds. Ones willing to consider all options, willing to work with all factions. Ones that see Lowell as a multi-faceted city, not one divided between old Lowell and new Lowell.
I’m an old Lowellian who recognizes how far my city had fallen and how much it needed the new blood to kick start the rebirth. I cringe when hearing councilors I like and respect as people, going all out to appeal to the lowest common denominator in this town.
Conversely, I cringe when hearing comments from newcomers that come off as arrogant and smarter than/holier than thou. You don’t need a degree from an elitist university to make an intelligent comment or have a positive impact in your community. When you look down on those who may not speak as eloquently as you, you destroy any validity your argument may hold.
I miss Paul Tsongas now more than ever. He was an old Lowellian with the foresight to help shape a modern day city and unite all factions for the common good. Sadly, other than Senator Panagiotakis I don’t see any potential leaders with the credibility and foresight to fill those large shoes.
Newcomer, elitist university. Nope, not me. I am a life long resident of this great city and didn’t get a degree anywhere (I always thought higher education was a good thing and something to be achieved not something to be denegrated)
I agree we need candidates with open minds, so far we have only gotten candidates that pander and grandstand the betterment of Lowell be damned! Progressive, in my mind, is not a code word for New Lowellians.
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